RETROSPECTIVE SEROLOGICAL AND GENETIC-STUDY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF HANTAVIRUSES IN GREECE

A retrospective serological and genetic study of hantaviruses responsi ble for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Greece during the last 17 years is presented. Fifty-one serum samples taken from 30 HFRS cases previously diagnosed by immunofluorescence assay were teste d by ELISA for IgG (Hantaan, Dobrava, and Puumala) and IgM antibodies (Hantaan and Puumala). Results were compatible with the majority of in fections being related to hantaviruses carried by rodents of the subfa mily Murinae. RNA was extracted from 26 selected samples and reverse t ranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using pr imers specifically designed for the detection of hantaviruses associat ed with murine (MS-N-specific, MM-G1-specific primers) or arvicoline r odents (PPT-N-specific primers). In addition, primers previously desig ned for the detection of the G2 coding region of the Murinae-associate d hantaviruses were also used. Sequencing of the PCR products was then performed, followed by phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequence d ifferences. Eleven out of the 26 serum samples tested were found to be positive by PCR with the MS-N primers, whereas four were positive wit h the MM-G1 primers, and only two with the G2 primers. None of the sam ples was found positive with the PPT primers. The sequence analysis sh owed that the virus that was responsible for these 11 HFRS cases was t he Dobrava virus, which is endemic throughout the Balkans. (C) 1998 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.